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Título del libro: Howler Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology, And Conservation
Título del capítulo: Insights into Reproductive Strategies and Sexual Selection in Howler Monkeys

Autores UNAM:

Autores externos:

Idioma:
Inglés
Año de publicación:
2015
Palabras clave:

Intrasexual selection; Mate choice; Intersexual conflict; Dimorphism; Dichromatism; Sexual solicitation; Copulation; Extragroup mating; Interbirth interval; Infanticide


Resumen:

The genus Alouatta is characterized by a flexible social system in which the reproductive strategies of males and females show great variability both within and between species. Even though the mating system of some species is more frequently polygynous (e.g., A. arctoidea, A. seniculus, and A. pigra) and that of other species more often polygynandrous (e.g., A. caraya and A. palliata), females in all species whose reproductive behavior has been studied have been reported to copulate with multiple males within their group, with males in neighboring groups, and with solitary males, suggesting a ``mixed mating strategy'' characterized by periods of selective mating and periods of promiscuous mating. Central males, however, may be able to monopolize most breeding opportunities during the periovulatory period (POP) of the ovarian cycle when conception is most likely to occur by forming consortships with cycling females. Females do not avoid these consortships as they sexually solicit the central male frequently during their POPs. All howler monkey species are sexually dimorphic in body size, canine size, and hyoid apparatus, suggesting high male-male competition. In addition, four taxa present degrees of sexual dichromatism. Infanticide has been observed in various howler monkey species and might play an important role in shaping their social systems. We review the reproductive behavior of Alouatta, discuss male and female reproductive strategies that are associated with sexual selection via intrasexual selection, mate choice, or intersexual conflict, and propose a model for the evolution of reproductive behavior in atelid primates.


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